As a radio talk show slogan ... long time listener ... first time caller...

This is my first time calling or writing etc ...

Last year, I applied to Edward Jones and failed the initial interview with St. Louis that is the one right after the application. I am determined to become an IR ... but would enjoy advice on what to expect and what they want to hear ...

In addition, I also failed the phone interview with A.G. Edwards after going the distance, I was told not to except any other employment options at the time ...

So I have a sobering moment here ... both phone calls from St. Louis from the recruiting department were failures ...

I guess what I am asking is this ... I do desire to become an IR with Edward Jones. I have read, the good, the bad, and the ugly off this board.

Still I want to be an IR with Edward Jones ... so if anyone has a step by step process to get through this and what to expect I would be deeply grateful.

I have also applied to UBS this time as well. My first overall choice is Edward Jones then A.G. Edwards, then the rest fall after that ...

I don't know much about the other firms ... ML seems a little to stuff shirt for me and don't care for Morgan Stanley either ...

As far as EJ, I really like the idea of my own office with a BOA. I have enjoyed my talks with the IR here locally and his BOA here. I really don't mind knocking on doors ... I know I must be a little off in that respect, but truly you never know what will be behind the next door you approach.

Tony, It has been a long time since I had the pre pre telephone interview for Jones (I am no longer there). It seemed to me that it was a psycological profile type of interview with weird questions that didn't have anything to do with the actual job of being an advisor.

One I really remember was "If you were in a shopping mall and saw a little lost child, what would you do?" or "Tell me about a scary experience and how you handled it." WTF? I guess they are trying to find out risk tolerance, ability to think on your feet, confidence level and I don't know what all else. I don't think you can prepare for this type of interview other than try to figure out what they want to hear and give them the answers.

One I really remember was "If you were in a shopping mall and saw a little lost child, what would you do?" or "Tell me about a scary experience and how you handled it." WTF? I guess they are trying to find out risk tolerance, ability to think on your feet, confidence level and I don't know what all else. I don't think you can prepare for this type of interview other than try to figure out what they want to hear and give them the answers.

When I questioned my IR last year, when I failed the phone interview, he said that he wasn't sure what happened...

So with that being said, yes, I would like to work for Jones, it sounds like the best place for training and to get started. My overall impression from my talks with the BOA, in his office was that many people don't succeed the first time through the process ...

Meaning even getting the opportunity to have them say yes, in addition, from everything else I am reading. Would it be possible from the various indictments that the company even last year was being even more selective in their hiring process?

In any case, I have to believe what my IR said to me, he didn't know what happened last year, but said I should try again next year...so that is what I am doing now.

Getting past St. Louis and on to the Face to Face ... I would like to have some of the control back on my side of the fence ... I am a better face to face person apparently than a phone person. That is odd to me when I have been very successful using the phone as well selling.

I have done my studying and preparing ... just waiting on that call to get this interview behind me ...

In addition, one more thing I was thinking ... I live in a moderate sized city not huge, just moderate. Last year, I remember the locations being 3 in this area. There is still only 1, when I do a search on the website, it shows several, but starting at 5.5 miles then further out ...

Well, to sum it up, I don't want to read too much into this interview just get pass it and on through the process.

Go to the local regional leaders office every two weeks until they hire you. That is someone with some pull and that kind of persitence will be respected. Ask any IR and they will be able to point you to the RL's office.

No matter what they say, keep going back...that will be your job at Jones so demonstrating your ability to do it will get you hired.

Go and meet a RL first. Go around the HR BS that is Edward Jones. A RL can make one phone call and you are hired. I had several friends that failed the phone interview but were hired immediately after they met a RL.

Thanks to everyone that put their 2cents up here ... I am deeply grateful. It sounds like to me it would be worth my time and effort to meet the RL ... should I just go unannounced? I am assuming I should talk to the IR first which is also a Group Leader.